And me.

I finished a year and thought I could handle moderation. Even managed to NOT get blackout drunk a few times. But it was not long at all before I was drinking nearly every night with the ferocity of a sailor on shore leave. In my case it ended in a trip to the emergency room and eventual surgery. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

So I got back on the wagon. Did another year. When that was up, I stayed on. Tomorrow is the 6 month mark of my current wagon. Staying on this time.

(10-18-2016 09:05 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  -- and to have a second half of a life that is as inspired and as admirable as the first

"Second half of a life"? I may well agree with the heart of your post, but this is obscene. By my reckoning I am barely one third of the way through my life.

Wittgenstein Wrote:Death is not an event in life: we do not live to experience death. If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present. Our life has no end in the way in which our visual field has no limits.

Living in the present -- as always -- I have a full plate at the moment. I will be back again in the HAG-Reich winter, but for now it is time for me to take a break from the Forum.

To every one of you on the wagon, or considering the wagon: Please heed what the Lizard says.

NYE is real amateur hour -- a lot of people out drinking who never drink otherwise, a lot of pent-up stress and rage from the holidays being released all at once, and some desperate last-ditch antics before the holidays are truly over. It's probably the single best night of the year not to be out.

If Trump wins, will you fall of the wagon for just that day?

Nov 8th with a Trump win deserves some celebration. It will be uncharitable to the gods themselves, to the greater humanity as a whole, if you do not have a drink in honor of Donald J Trump winning the presidency.



T.

(10-31-2016 03:51 PM)Tenebrous Wrote:  If Trump wins, will you fall of the wagon for just that day?

Nov 8th with a Trump win deserves some celebration. It will be uncharitable to the gods themselves, to the greater humanity as a whole, if you do not have a drink in honor of Donald J Trump winning the presidency.



T.

The beauty of the wagon is that you discover other, more enjoyable ways to celebrate.

M.

(10-31-2016 04:15 PM)Wahawahwah Wrote:  

(10-31-2016 03:51 PM)Tenebrous Wrote:  If Trump wins, will you fall of the wagon for just that day?

Nov 8th with a Trump win deserves some celebration. It will be uncharitable to the gods themselves, to the greater humanity as a whole, if you do not have a drink in honor of Donald J Trump winning the presidency.



T.

The beauty of the wagon is that you discover other, more enjoyable ways to celebrate.

M.

^^

This post is low energy.

MAGA!!


T.

Tenebrous, respectfully, this is not a thread for advising others to find excuses to drink.

(10-31-2016 03:51 PM)Tenebrous Wrote:  If Trump wins, will you fall of the wagon for just that day?

Nov 8th with a Trump win deserves some celebration. It will be uncharitable to the gods themselves, to the greater humanity as a whole, if you do not have a drink in honor of Donald J Trump winning the presidency.

T.

Considering that DJT himself doesn't drink, no. Regardless of who wins, it should instead be a very sobering moment for many.

DTD

Been following this thread for a while. It's brilliant.

I'm just curious, have any of you who enjoy traveling to FSU countries experienced any social difficulties there? Alcohol seems to be pretty ingrained in the culture in that region of the world.

(10-31-2016 03:51 PM)Tenebrous Wrote:  If Trump wins, will you fall of the wagon for just that day?

Nov 8th with a Trump win deserves some celebration. It will be uncharitable to the gods themselves, to the greater humanity as a whole, if you do not have a drink in honor of Donald J Trump winning the presidency.



T.

He isn't falling off his 70 year wagon WHEN he wins, so no.

Just a little update. Halfway through my 2 year, just passed the 18 month mark. It has gotten very easy. Going out is no problem at all and I have zero desire to drink. To those still on the fence, give it an honest shot. It's worth it, I promise.

Two months in today... I'm thankful that I restarted because there's been a lot of family business nonsense going on that's outside the scope of this post.

In a different time I would've drank to forget my problems. The wagon's helped me keep a good perspective on things.

With that said, there have been times when I was ready fucking go crazy over the first couple months, but so far so good... lifting weights and eating well (surprise, surprise) are a big help, as well.

If the past is any indication, holidays aren't much of a problem.... it's the long, cold, winter months (specifically right after New Years) that can be troublesome, but I'm ready.

Day 223 for me. Seems to be getting easier over time. My first plan was to do a year. My new plan is to make this permanent.

Only have a few weeks left on the wagon. Took some time off work to visit my distant family in Ethiopia for a few months. The experience was refreshing to say the least... made me appreciate what I have here in Aus and that drinking hard was going to prevent me from moving forward in life.

Now that i'm 11 months in, I'm still unsure if I can moderate it or not.. like having 1 beer a week.

(11-07-2016 10:13 PM)Kizman Wrote:  Only have a few weeks left on the wagon. Took some time off work to visit my distant family in Ethiopia for a few months. The experience was refreshing to say the least... made me appreciate what I have here in Aus and that drinking hard was going to prevent me from moving forward in life.

Now that i'm 11 months in, I'm still unsure if I can moderate it or not.. like having 1 beer a week.

There must have been some event(s) that led you to commit to the wagon year. The ability to moderate intake was likely not one of those things. The fact that you are questioning your ability to moderate going forward... implies that you really believe the answer is "no". Whether or not that is actually true... only you can decide. Is it worth the risk to find out?

DTD

Last saturday I had a bottle of wine.. before going out to bar hop, where I had like 5 drinks. I didn't feel stupidly wasted at the end of the night, but was useless all of Sunday and even this morning. Strange hangover, if I may say so.. Either way, time for some healthy living!

I'm going to keep this brief, but I feel the need to post this right now. Almost as a contract to myself.

I have been closely reading this thread for the last year or so. I am a 27 year old male with a lot going for me, but alcohol is something I have become too reliant on for a good night out. I almost feel like I have been seeking wildly stupid experiences for a number of years through drinking, today that has to end. There are no more excuses for my reckless behaviour. I am worried it may cost me my job, and my girlfriend if I keep this up. With the combination of stupid behaviour, a decrease in savings, and fears over my overall well-being today I have decided to go clean. Not for a year, but permanently. I also owe Donald Trump for partial inspiration...in certain videos when he talks about his late brother, it hits me hard.

Here's to a new way of thinking, living, and hopefully feeling.

(11-07-2016 10:13 PM)Kizman Wrote:  Only have a few weeks left on the wagon. Took some time off work to visit my distant family in Ethiopia for a few months. The experience was refreshing to say the least... made me appreciate what I have here in Aus and that drinking hard was going to prevent me from moving forward in life.

Now that i'm 11 months in, I'm still unsure if I can moderate it or not.. like having 1 beer a week.

Kizman, as you approach this date you should reflect on all the changes in your life that happened as a result of the wagon -- and not how it might have gone if you hadn't committed to it a year ago and seen it through to the end.

If this is true -- and I have no doubt it is --

drinking hard was going to prevent me from moving forward in life

Then you should strongly consider reupping for year number 2. For a man who was drinking hard enough that he can say in all seriousness that it was preventing him from moving forward in life, one year is almost never enough. Year 2 -- the deuce -- is when the gains that you've made really start to consolidate and gain some heft and durability. Please think about this.

(11-21-2016 05:20 PM)JonnyOxford88 Wrote:  I'm going to keep this brief, but I feel the need to post this right now. Almost as a contract to myself.

I have been closely reading this thread for the last year or so. I am a 27 year old male with a lot going for me, but alcohol is something I have become too reliant on for a good night out. I almost feel like I have been seeking wildly stupid experiences for a number of years through drinking, today that has to end. There are no more excuses for my reckless behaviour. I am worried it may cost me my job, and my girlfriend if I keep this up. With the combination of stupid behaviour, a decrease in savings, and fears over my overall well-being today I have decided to go clean. Not for a year, but permanently. I also owe Donald Trump for partial inspiration...in certain videos when he talks about his late brother, it hits me hard.

Here's to a new way of thinking, living, and hopefully feeling.

Jonny, thanks for this post.

It is very understandable that a man who sees his life being damaged by alcohol is moved to say: this is, I give it up -- for good! I'll never touch it again. However, I strongly believe that committing to the seemingly more modest goal of a 1 year drinking wagon -- which can be evaluated and renewed when the year is up -- is the better way to go. Here is why:

The idea of "never drinking again", while it sounds more decisive and definitive than merely "not drinking for next year", is a little too abstract. The human brain is not really built to comprehend the concept of "never" -- and more particularly, the brain of a hard drinker cannot really grapple with the concept of never drinking again. As a result, this declaration, while seemingly so final, makes surprisingly little impression on one's mind; and that means that its effect often does not last. A week or two or three pass, and suddenly the idea of "never drinking again" seems remote and a little silly, and the drinker as often as not simply resumes his bad old habits as if nothing had happened.

Whereas the idea of not drinking for a full year -- 24/7/365, not one drink on any day for any reason through four very full and lengthy times of year -- is something that the brain can understand, indeed it understands it all too well. It is specific enough to be processed and to be resented. And this resentment is very important, because without it the real work of the wagon cannot begin. Eternity is so long that it might as well be meaningless; but a year is something entirely different. You know that it's certainly possible and within your power not to drink for a year; now it's just the small matter of actually doing it, and once you make that decision, stake your pride on it, and set a date -- that is when the days and the weeks can suddenly become much longer than had seemed possible, the reality of the wagon sets in, and the necessary work can get underway.

One of the defining characteristics of the hard drinker is that he is often an enthusiast -- he wishes to solve problems, and to move through life generally, by bold gestures and sweeping declarations. And the decision to give up drinking for good, in one fell swoop, is very much in character for the enthusiast. But what he needs to learn is modesty and patience -- and nothing teaches modesty and patience like the hard-minded paces of the one year wagon in all its humble but unrelenting day-to-day reality.

That would be my advice to you -- instead of taking the seemingly more decisive, but in fact more abstract and therefore less consequential step of giving up the sauce for good, set a date, which could be today, and commit to a 1 year drinking wagon starting from that date. And it is then, through the long days, weeks, months, and seasons that lie ahead, that you will slowly begin to find out what the new way of thinking, living, and feeling that you yearn for really amounts to.

Thanksgiving is coming!
A very inspirational video from Craig Beck on How do you avoid drinking alcohol at Christmas and Thanksgiving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpUiQhmfTHg

I started my wagon Sunday January 10th. I drank just about every night for 17 or 18 years. After reading this thread I decided to read Allan Carrs book, thanks Beyond Borders, and jumped right in.

Positives. Business is doing better. I have more money. I guess I am in better shape, but I have always been healthy. I used to go for 3 or 4 mile jogs to get over hangovers. I still go jogging but not as much. I haven't had the feeling of "doom". Feeling of accomplishment.

Negatives. Boredom is a bitch. I feel I am very fortunate to have a business that keeps me occupied on nights and weekends for the most part. Days like today are the hardest. I am closed only 3 days a year. I still smoke, and I look forward to getting up everyday to have one with a cup of coffee.

I hate to say it, but as someone posted earlier, I guess I don't feel much different. Life has not "come" to me yet. I have been thinking about a second year. I have already purchased Carr's book on smoking and I might as well go for it. After such a long time with alcohol, I may need more time to realize the true benefits of the wagon as Oz puts it.

I don't post here much, but I thought I would share my experience with everyone on one of my days off. Thanks to TLOZ for the thread and insight plus many other helpful tips and information (sholder stretches, udo's oil, ect....). Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Can't believe I haven't seen this thread until now. I've never really been a drinker, but the past 5 years or so I've pretty much quit as in 10 or less drinks per year. I can't remember the last time I had a drink, but I'll start today as Day 1.

One thing I've come to realize as I've gotten older is that it's best to be free from corrupting influences like alcohol, drugs, porn, etc. Deep down I've always known this, but it's hard to implement in practice. Even recently I tried Modafinil and compared it to meditation for concentration and focus, and just meditating was vastly superior.

Anyway kudos to all the guys in this thread and I wish you the best in your continued success.

(11-24-2016 07:36 PM)Piecoon Wrote:  I started my wagon Sunday January 10th. I drank just about every night for 17 or 18 years. After reading this thread I decided to read Allan Carrs book, thanks Beyond Borders, and jumped right in.

Positives. Business is doing better. I have more money. I guess I am in better shape, but I have always been healthy. I used to go for 3 or 4 mile jogs to get over hangovers. I still go jogging but not as much. I haven't had the feeling of "doom". Feeling of accomplishment.

Negatives. Boredom is a bitch. I feel I am very fortunate to have a business that keeps me occupied on nights and weekends for the most part. Days like today are the hardest. I am closed only 3 days a year. I still smoke, and I look forward to getting up everyday to have one with a cup of coffee.

I hate to say it, but as someone posted earlier, I guess I don't feel much different. Life has not "come" to me yet. I have been thinking about a second year. I have already purchased Carr's book on smoking and I might as well go for it. After such a long time with alcohol, I may need more time to realize the true benefits of the wagon as Oz puts it.

I don't post here much, but I thought I would share my experience with everyone on one of my days off. Thanks to TLOZ for the thread and insight plus many other helpful tips and information (sholder stretches, udo's oil, ect....). Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Piecoon,

Thanks for this honest post -- and belatedly, Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.

As you more or less realize, less than a year off the sauce is not really a very long time for someone who had drunk every night for the better part of two decades. The "boredom" you are feeling is to be expected; the wagon must roll through long and dry stretches of desert before it reaches its destination. There is no way around it.

You should indeed strongly consider a second year once that time comes. The first year is necessary, but for someone who has drunk hard enough for long enough, it is not sufficient. The new habits take a long time to form and deepen and you must let them do their work over time. And patience is itself a habit that must be learned. Many things really only begin to happen in that second year, especially past the 18 month point or so. You should simply keep living your life and let them happen -- and life will come to you; though the ways in which this is expressed are subtle and will take longer to recognize even after much of the work has already been done.

Lastly. Beginning every day with a cup of coffee and a cigarette is a bewitching way to kick it off, and one the brain takes to very hungrily; but it's really not a very good idea. You would do well to let it go. It's a tough habit to give up, but -- like with almost any other habit -- only truly difficult for a matter of weeks. Get through those few weeks and it will be much easier -- and you will be rewarded by sweeter days and sweeter nights for years to come. That is an easy trade to make.

(11-01-2015 03:46 PM)The Lizard of Oz Wrote:  Thank you for the post Sharkie. I wanted to make sure you were making a considered decision and now I know you are.

Welcome aboard as of November 2, 2015 and hope to hear more from you here over time.

Successfully completed the wagon. The first month or so was really, really tough. There were many days where I would catch myself day dreaming about drinking in class, at home, in the fucking shower. Not all the time, just regular (and powerful) pangs. Literally had to stop hanging out with friends for the month because most of them drink quite regularly -- I airbnb'ed at another place in the college town for about 20 days just to get away from the alcohol environment. That first month was extremely annoying and I was on edge for quite a bit. Weirdly though, never had headaches or any major physical manifestations after quitting, just a general dullness, boredom, sudden pangs and the guilt/bargaining thing to go out one last time, to have that one final drink because it was ---X reason, to feel motivated again etc.

I'd like to say my will was iron clad and all that, but what really kept me going was the mental benefits to be honest. I have a slight depressive streak that runs in the family, nothing major or debilitating but it tends to flare up occasionally and is exacerbated when I drink heavily --- and this time last year I'd been drinking a lot pretty much every day and was sick of feeling down every evening about random things. Plus I'm a much more stable, balanced person when I don't drink heavily(aren't we all?). That really kept me going. The first week was pretty rough, but after like the fifth day every single day the momentum started building as it seemed like I was "investing" in the wagon, so to speak. Every day I went without drinking, my resistance to breaking the wagon seemed to increase.

After this stage, the pangs subsided a bit in intensity, and slightly in frequency and I was able to reliably hang around those groups that drank regularly for a short period of time while managing to stay on the wagon.

By about 6 months, I was out of it - new habits solidified one supposes. Eventually, by about the end of the seventh month I was no longer actively resisting alcohol, it just seemed to be meh. Not sure if everyone, especially folks who've been drinking heavily for decades would feel the same way, but it really seemed almost effortless at this point -- drinking no longer occupied much of my thoughts. There were still random pangs and I did almost break a couple of times thinking I was "over the worst" but refrained.

At this point I'm almost 13 months since the last drink, and have no intention or desire of going back -- I'm just a happier and more balanced person when I'm not brooding on inconsequential and artificially elevated suffering through the haze of inebriation.

Major props to TLoZ for starting and continuing to invest in the thread, as well as a lot of the members for sharing their own journeys and advice throughout the thread -- there were many times when I would catch myself dreaming about drinking, especially at those times of the evening we would usually start drinking -- and I would come back to this thread to read about other people's experiences and reasons for getting on the wagon, and reinforcing my own resolve and reasons for quitting. Initially in the challenge, this thread became my refuge almost every time I felt the pangs coming, and stayed here till they were quelled, so to speak.

Count me in for a second year.

W,

Thank you for this excellent post. Congrats on completing the 1 year wagon, and a +1 rep point from me.

Even though it may not have seemed difficult after a while, I still hope that you can take some satisfaction in what you've accomplished. The other and even greater benefits aside, it has probably made you mentally stronger and tougher in ways that will serve you well in the future.

Great decision to reup for the deuce. Welcome back aboard for year 2 as of November 2, 2016 and I look forward to hearing more from you here as time goes on.